To find Bristol and Bath eerie?

[soulandwine]

I wonder if anyone else feels this way about Bristol and Bath? I grew up in east Devon and often used to think about where I'd live as an adult. On paper, Bristol seemed like the perfect and logical solution. The right size, location, beautiful architecture, interesting people and culturally rich.

I'm at a crossroads in my life, and with nothing tying me to any particular area, I am considering once again where would suit me best. My first thoughts were Bristol, but after another recent day trip, I somehow can't bring myself to love the city.

It's hard to describe, but I find the atmosphere in both Bristol and Bath oppressive, disconcerting and somewhat creepy. Both cities have a coldness, as though the soul has been sucked out. I don't feel this way about London, Oxford, Exeter, Winchester etc., only Bristol and Bath.

I will say that I'm a reasonably sensitive character, and I absorb other people's emotions, as mad as that sounds. Does anyone else feel the same way about Bristol and Bath?

Apologies, not sure if this belongs in AIBU or not.

No, they’re great cities! Have been to both a few times

I’m from Bristol and I love it. Big for people wandering around shouting to themselves though, and broadmead is an absolute dive. Bath is nice but not busy enough for me.

I have extremely fond memories of Bristol, from when I was a student there in the Seventies. It sounds as if it has changed dramatically for the worse since then, though. I found it very atmospheric, though not eerie, in the autumn and winter when I lived in Clifton - walking up Pro-Cathedral Lane at dusk and later was quite scary. I never worried about Park Row or Park Street, as my classes were round there and they were familiar to me. I've loved Bath on the few occasions I've visited it, though it was always gloriously sunny and I love the Bath stone. No weird sensations related to ley-lines, though! Interesting about the ghosts of slaves - is Blackboys Hill still called that?

Someone headbutted me in the face on Glastonbury High Street which is enough reason for me to never visit there again. That's before even getting into the other general weirdness and fakeness.

My dad grew up in Bristol in the 60s/70s and says it’s much better now - said it was kind of dull/crusty back then and the working class areas (and around temple meads) were an absolutely dump. It’s been gentrified and tbh is all the better for it - it’s so colourful and exciting now, and feels so modern.

That's interesting. I've lived in Bath for over 10 years now and I love it here and wouldnt want to live anywhere else. The town centre does get a bit busy with tourists but I don't find it had the chaotic crammped vibe of places like Oxford or Cambridge. Another reply mentioned feeling hemmed in in Bath but one thing I love about Bath is that you're never more than 5 minutes walk until you're in some sort of peaceful beautiful semi rural place.

I've heard a few energy sensitive people say Bristol has a dense energy. I personally wouldn't live in Bristol, I find its housing areas way too akin to rabbit Warren's and hard to leave.

That being said you will never know anywhere until you live there. The places you visit as a tourist or day tripper will not be the places you frequent as a resident. Try one of them out for a while. You can always move again if you don't settle in.

Good luck